. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION   
WT/MIN(11)/ST/101 
17 December 2011 
 (11-6664) 
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE 
Eighth Session Geneva, 15 - 17 December 2011 Original: French 
 
  
ALGERIA 
 
Statement by H.E. Mr Idriss Jazaïry 
Ambassador, Permanent Representative 
(Speaking as an Observer) 
  
I would have wished to deliver this statement in  Arabic, which is an official language of the 
United Nations, but unfortunately not here at the WTO. 
 
I would like to convey Algeria's congratulati ons to H.E. Mr Olusegun Aganga, Nigeria's 
Minister of Trade and Industry, on his election as Chair of this Conference.  I also congratulate the Russian Federation, Samoa, Montenegro and Vanuatu on their accession to the WTO.  
Algeria welcomes the appointment by Members of a chairman of its working party on 
accession to the WTO after the depart ure of the previous incumbent.  This decision will give renewed 
impetus to Algeria's accession process.  
Renewed stimulus was already provided by the initiative taken in 2011 by the People's 
National Assembly, which organized, for the first time and with the support of the 
WTO Director-General, a workshop aimed at rais ing awareness among parliamentarians and the 
social partners of the issues at stake in acceding to the WTO.  
The ultimate goal of the Eighth Ministerial Conference is to protect and increase the 
resilience of the multilateral trading system in a contex t of recurring crises, but it must also encourage 
the promotion in these difficult circumstances of a successful integration of the developing countries 
in global trade, whilst at the same time combating the rise of protectionism.  
This Conference gives us the opportunity to refl ect on a number of systemic issues, set forth 
in the Conference document on political guidance, which recognizes the contribution of accession to 
strengthening the multilateral trading system.  In th is connection, Algeria has repeatedly called for a 
more transparent and simpler process of accession to  the WTO.  The application of differential 
treatment to countries acceding to the WTO must be  in keeping with their respective levels of 
development and not be based on exogenous cons iderations leading to double standards. 
 
Accession procedures are challenged by the absence of clear rules and predetermined criteria 
as well as an asymmetrical negotiating structure.   This compels developing countries seeking 
accession to accept concessions in excess of those required of the Member States themselves, including the most developed Members.  
The African Group submitted a draft decision with  a view to improving and facilitating the 
WTO accession process for the developing and the least developing countries.  In spite of widespread WT/MIN(11)/ST/101 
Page 2  
 
  endorsement of this text, consensus for its adoptio n was not reached at this  Conference.  This is 
regrettable but we commend the decision taken in favour of the accession of LDCs. 
 
Lastly, my delegation welcomes the presence of the Palestinian Authority as an observer in 
this Conference and hopes that this status will be recognized in all WTO bodies.
 
 
My delegation takes umbrage with the "double standards" shown here  by those who favour 
the participation as observers of all interested  international and regi onal intergovernmental 
organizations except the Arab League.  We call on Members to put an end to this discrimination 
which has marred the proceedings of the Eighth Ministerial Conference. 
 
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